Novice wing foiler here in sunny North Queensland, I have just recently taken up winging (15 years of kiting experience with some kite foiling).
I am currently running a 76cm Axis mast with a 5'3 90L board and can ride relatively competently. My local spot, Alva Beach, is quite tidal and I am limited by the tide a lot of the time (and have to defect back to kiting) as it can get quite shallow.
Is it worthwhile trying a 45cm mast so I can get foiling when the tide doesn't line up with the wind? Or will it be too short to actually have any fun on?
I started on a 68 without breaching too much. Can get shallow where I foil. Use the 75 now. 45 is pretty short.
Select to expand quotekitekid5483 said..
Novice wing foiler here in sunny North Queensland, I have just recently taken up winging (15 years of kiting experience with some kite foiling).
I am currently running a 76cm Axis mast with a 5'3 90L board and can ride relatively competently. My local spot, Alva Beach, is quite tidal and I am limited by the tide a lot of the time (and have to defect back to kiting) as it can get quite shallow.
Is it worthwhile trying a 45cm mast so I can get foiling when the tide doesn't line up with the wind? Or will it be too short to actually have any fun on?
I'm winging predominately in an estuary location and use a 45cm mast most of the time. When it's 25knots plus and the chop gets a bit big it can be 'interesting' but it's fine.
Select to expand quotespikefoil said..kitekid5483 said..
Novice wing foiler here in sunny North Queensland, I have just recently taken up winging (15 years of kiting experience with some kite foiling).
I am currently running a 76cm Axis mast with a 5'3 90L board and can ride relatively competently. My local spot, Alva Beach, is quite tidal and I am limited by the tide a lot of the time (and have to defect back to kiting) as it can get quite shallow.
Is it worthwhile trying a 45cm mast so I can get foiling when the tide doesn't line up with the wind? Or will it be too short to actually have any fun on?
I'm winging predominately in an estuary location and use a 45cm mast most of the time. When it's 25knots plus and the chop gets a bit big it can be 'interesting' but it's fine.
Cheers for the feedback spikefoil and don.
Spikefoil so you don't find the 45cm too limiting? Can you still pump it a little bit?
Select to expand quotekitekid5483 said..spikefoil said..kitekid5483 said..
Novice wing foiler here in sunny North Queensland, I have just recently taken up winging (15 years of kiting experience with some kite foiling).
I am currently running a 76cm Axis mast with a 5'3 90L board and can ride relatively competently. My local spot, Alva Beach, is quite tidal and I am limited by the tide a lot of the time (and have to defect back to kiting) as it can get quite shallow.
Is it worthwhile trying a 45cm mast so I can get foiling when the tide doesn't line up with the wind? Or will it be too short to actually have any fun on?
I'm winging predominately in an estuary location and use a 45cm mast most of the time. When it's 25knots plus and the chop gets a bit big it can be 'interesting' but it's fine.
Cheers for the feedback spikefoil and don.
Spikefoil so you don't find the 45cm too limiting? Can you still pump it a little bit?
It's sort of a choice of using a 45 mast or not going out at all - easy choice! I've been foiling a little while but am only just sorting gybing out (!). With the short mast you have a limited amount of vertical movement so you get quite good at judging height. You can pump the foil ok. I would say when the chop builds up I do breach going into gybes sometimes but as the mast is so short that's quite easy to recover from.
I'm 85kg, 95L Naish Hover, 1850 Armstrong HS if that helps?
I use a 45cm sometimes prone foiling so I can catch super small waves in the shallows. You get used to the limits of the mast quickly. It pumps really well and the foil reacts super well. It feels great and I love using it.
